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Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh breathed his last on Thursday at the age of 92.
Puri also addressed claims that BJP ignored protocol, explaining that a letter from Congress requesting specific arrangements for the funeral arrived late. (X)
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday hit back at the Congress over its allegations of mismanagement during the state funeral of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, saying the grand old party is engaging in “dirty politics” and “vitiating the poise and dignity of the somber moment with controversies.”
Several Congress leaders, including, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera, have attacked the government for allegedly insulting the former PM by holding his cremation ceremony at Delhi’s Nigambodh Ghat instead of Rajghat.
Read More: ‘Hope Congress Stops Exploiting…’: BJP’s Rebuttal On Row Over Manmohan Singh Funeral
Puri rebutted the claims and said that the Congress is creating a controversy. “There is no controversy, but it is being created. The Congress is playing dirty politics. Congress party is isolated in the INDI alliance and even in the country,” he said as quoted by news agency ANI.
Those who are manufacturing a parallel narrative with regard to the last rites of Sdr Dr Manmohan Singh Ji are doing a huge disservice to his memory and the ethos he embodied as a human being.With his body draped in Tricolour, the late former Prime Minister was accorded full… pic.twitter.com/bYurxjbk4U— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) December 29, 2024
He further pointed out that the grand old party “insulted” its own leaders in the past, saying, “This is the same Congress which didn’t allow PV Narasimha Rao’s mortal remains to come to the party headquarters, and his final cremation was done in Hyderabad.”
Puri also addressed claims that BJP ignored protocol, explaining that a letter from Congress requesting specific arrangements for the funeral arrived late. “Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote a letter, and the Home Ministry released a communication agreeing to their request. The letter reached us the day after Singh’s demise, at three minutes past midnight,” Puri said.
The union minister assured that a memorial will be built to honour the memory of the former PM.
“The Sikh community came and prayed for him (Manmohan Singh). We have always admired his work and drawn inspiration from him. Even today, when his ashes were immersed, our people were there and not the people from Congress. In the days to come, a memorial will be built for sure. I don’t think that we should give a free run to those who are creating controversy,” he added.
#WATCH | Delhi | On Congress alleging BJP of dishonouring former PM Manmohan Singh, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says, “The Sikh community came and prayed for him (former PM Manmohan Singh). We have always admired his work and drawn inspiration from him. Even today, when his… pic.twitter.com/N7fhdl4q7s— ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2024
Puri further said no one from the Gandhi family was present when Dr Singh’s ashes were taken for immersion today. “I looked hard into that picture, even Congress party office-bearers, I did not see any of them. What are we discussing here?”
Earlier today, the BJP jabbed the Congress and the Gandhis for being absent when Dr Manmohan Singh’s family came to collect his remains on Sunday.
The BJP hit out at the Congress and said it should stop “exploiting” Singh in his death and “accord him the dignity he deserves”. “For media attention and to politicise, the Congress was present, but when it came to honouring him with dignity, they were absent. Truly shameful,” BJP leader Amit Malviya said.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh breathed his last on Thursday at the age of 92. He was cremated with full state honours on Saturday in the presence of top dignitaries from the country and abroad.
(With inputs from agencies)